Decking apparatus



Sept. 15, 1925. 1,553,995

, E. S. EVANS DECKING APPARATUS Filed May 24. 192s Patented Sept. l5, i925.

UNTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD S. EVANS, F DETROT, MHGAN, ASSIGNR TO E. S. EVANS 8a CO., NC., OF DETROIT, ll'lIlGrAll, A CRPORATION F DELVJ'ARE.

Application filed May 24, i923.

To @ZZ whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that l, Enwiinn S. EVANS, a citizen of the YUnited States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Vfayne and State of lilichigan, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Decking ripvparatus, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relatesto certain new and useful improvements in decking apparatus employed in the shipping' of motor vehicles and particularly to the head portion thereof and has for its primary object to provide a clamping or locking device associated with the decking head for gripping the hub or axle of an automobile to retain the same in position thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamping or locking device associated with the head of decking apparatus that is automat-ic in its operation, the mounting of an automobile upon the decking effecting a closing movement of the locking device while the weight of the automobile retains the locking device in its closed position.

The invention further contemplates in a decking head of the typeabove set forth, the provision of means cooperating with the decking head and clamping or locking device for retaining the latter in its locked condition and against releasing movement.

lilith the above and other objects in view as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists of the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a side elevational view of a decking device equipped with the improved head and locking devices with an automobile wheel illustrated by dotted lines supported therein,

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view, partly shown in section of the decking head showing the clamping jaws carried thereby in their locked position, and further illustrated by dotted lines in a released open position with the wedge block cooperating with the decking head and clamping arms for retaining the latter in locked position, and

Serial No. 641,188.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the decking head.

rlhe decking apparatus disclosed in this application lincludes a frame structure having supporting legs l provided with angularly disposed feet 2 that are suitably anchored upo-n a car floor 3 or similar support, the legs being connected intermediate their ends by the cross brace Ll. The frame structure may be formed of any desired material such as metallic tubing, angle or channel bars or a wooden framework, the head supported at the upper ends of the legs l being formed of metal and having threaded sockets 6 for the reception of the upper ends of said legs.

The decking head 5 is preferably cast or forged and is provided in the upper 'side thereof with a pair of relatively long depressions or sockets 7 separated by an intermediate tongue or partition 8 as shown in Fig. 2, the upper face of the head 5 being concaved as at 9 intermediate the ends thereof.

A. substantially seini-circular clamping arm l0 is pivotally mounted in each socket 7, the clamping arms when in closed position as illustrated by full lines in Figs. l and 2 forming a circular formation, each clamping arm being of increased cross-sec` tional area at the pivoted end thereof and being pivotally mounted upon,d the cross pin ll `extending transversely of the head 5. An offset shoulder 12 is formed oneach clamping arm l() upwardly and laterally of the pivot pin 1l and projects above the central concaved portion 9 of the head when the clamping arms are in open positions as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the pivotal opening movements of the clamping arms being limited by the arms contacting the outer end walls of the sockets 7.

lWith the clamping arms l() in their released open positions illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and accomplished by the normal overbalanced pivotal mountings thereof, an automobile axle or wheel hub 13 illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 is positioned between the clamping arms and in engagement with the offset shoulders 12, the weight of the automobile depressing the shoulde and causing the clamping arm l0 to move upon the pivot pins ll with the outer ends of the clamping arms moved into enclosing re- 20. A retaining member 2l passes thro" lation with the wheel hub 13. Vif hen so disposed, a spring latch i4.- pivotally mounted at l5 upon one of the clamping arms has the other end 16 thereof moved into lock en gagement with the lug l? upon the coni` panion clamping arm. A further brake ind locking member is provided for each cl; nping arm l0, a. curved wedge block i8 beii inserted in thc` outer end of each socket between the adjacent faceof the cli arm und the end wall of the socket, wedge block 18 being carri-ed b y chain in, the other end of which is connected to the adjacent end of the decking head 5 by a link registering openings in the side walls o; head socket 'i and the wedge block l shown in Figs. 2 and 3 for retaining wedges anchored to the head with the clamping arms l 1n rigid engagement with the automobile axle or wheel hub 13.

From the above detail description the device, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be appan ent, it being noted that the clamping arms l0 are automatic in their operation the . tl the same are moved to their closed clamping and locking position by the weight ot the automobile. engaging the lateral shoulders l2 of the cooperatingl clamping arms for moving the outer ends thereof into enclosing relations with an automobile axle or wheel hub. The clasp lll retains the the clamping arms in closed position vv the wedge blocks 1S further bind the and the locking connection between the wedge blocks and decking head 5 prov i ts accidental displacementof the wet blocs. ln removing an automobile from the deci:- ing, the clasp la is released from the lug l? upon one of the clamping arms and the wedge blocks i8 are removed from the outer ends the sock-ets T, upward movement of the automobile vcansing the axle or wn'eel hub to engage the outer ends of the clamping arms l() and automatically separate the same.

`While there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made there-in without departing from the spirit and of the invention as claimed.

iilhat is claimed as new is z- Vin decking' apparatus of the type de- \ed, a decking' frame, a. head at thc npper-end thereof and aJ pair of's'paced independently operable devices inountedin the head and operable upon direct eno'ageinent therewith by a part of an automobile to be moved into clamping engagement with the part of the automobile said devices being," adjacently positioned to cause portions thereof engaged by a part ofthe automobie to contact and limit closing movement.

outer ends of being adjacently positioned to cause portions thereof engaged by a part of the automobile to contact and limit closing movement.

In a decking apparatus of the type described, a decl g frame, a head at the upper end thereot, a pair of spaced overbalanced clamping devices normally assuming an'open position adapted to be moved to a closed clamping position by the weight of an automobile placed on the head, and means for retainingthe clamping means in closed position.

4. In decking apparatus of the type described, a rigid decking frame, a rigid head at the upper end thereof, and a pair of spaced independently operable coopeiating` clamping arms pivotally mounted in the head, and constructed to have portions adjacent the pivot point and inwardly thereof project above the head when in open position for engagement by a part of an automobile mounted on the head to shift the clamping arms to a closed clamping position by the weight of the automobile.

ln decking apparatus of the type described a decking frame, a head at the upper end thereof, a pair of spaced cooperating clan'iping arms pivotally mounted in the head, and constructed to have portions adjacent the pivot point and inwardly thereof project above the head when in open posi` tion for engagement by a part of an automobile mounted on the head to shift the clamping arms to a closed clamping position by the` weight of the auton'iobile, and sepa.- rate devices associated with each end of the clamping arms for retaining the same in closed position.

6. ln a decking apparatus of the type described, a decking frame, a head at the upper end thereof, and a. pair of spaced c0- oporating clamping arms pivotally mounted in the head, and constructed to have portions adjacent the pivotpoint and inwariiliy thereof project above the head when in open position for engagement by a. part of an automobile mounted on the head to shift ich clamping arms pivotally mounted in the head, and constructed to have portions adjacent the pivot point and inwardly thereof project above the head when in open position for engagement by al part ot an automobile mounted on the head to shift the clamping arms to a closed clamping position by the Weight of the automobile, said head being in the form of a block having sockets therein to accommodate the pivotal mounting of the clamping arms, and Wedge blocks inserted in the outer ends ot the sockets engaging the clamping arms for retaining the same in closed position.

8. In adecking apparatus of the type described, a decking frame, a head at the upper end thereof, a pair of spaced cooperating clamping` arms pivotally mounted in the head, and constructed to have portions adjacent the pivotpoint and inwardly thereoi project above the head when in open p=osition for engagement by a part of an automobile mounted on the head to shift the clamping arms to a closed clamping position by the Weight of the automobile.y said head being in the form of a block having sockets therein to accommodate the pivotal mounting of the clamping arms, Wedge blocks inserted in the outer ends of the sockets engaging the clamping arms for retaining the same in closed position, and means for retaining the wedge blocks in the. head sockets.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

EDWARD S. EVANS. 

